Deconstruction Essay Example

some of Robert's own troops. Ultimately, this act challenges societal norms surrounding the concept of friend and enemy.

According to Vincent B Leitch, deconstructive criticism involves intentionally overturning traditional oppositions in themes and emphasizing the mysterious and disorienting interplay of previously unseen concepts discovered in the gap between opposing terms. The rape scene of Robert clearly illustrates Leitch's point as it confuses the meaning of friend and enemy. Psychologist Robert Epstein, who earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, argues that deconstruction suggests that no meaning is literal and the literal is opposite to the figurative. Findley achieves this by subverting meanings and causing readers to question their understanding of internal battles between friends and enemies, as well as the distinction between illusion and reality - a psychologically intense battle that many soldiers experienced during World War I. In The Wars, Findley leaves an enduring mark of these psychological battles between illusion and reality, which can be seen in various characters, particularly Robert and Clifford.

The text portrays Robert's initial visit to France as insufficient in capturing the true essence of the country during wartime, except for what one can envision mentally. This showcases how soldiers frequently encounter a shattered perception and confront a horrifying war reality, rendering their previous beliefs entirely illusory. The demise of Clifford Purchas further emphasizes the psychological battle between war's illusion and reality. Robert stumbles upon Clifford's lifeless body, abandoned on the ground after being shot in the back.

This illustrates how Clifford's experience with illusion and reality unfolds. He is shot by his fellow soldiers while desperately trying to escape the brutality of war. In an earlier

part of the novel, Clifford expresses that the war provided him with a chance to become a man. However, his actions on the battlefield contradict this interpretation completely. Timothy Findley employs a clever use of language to carefully break down these concepts as the novel unfolds.

According to Harper Collins, deconstruction aims to expose the distorted and ambiguous nature of reality and the elliptical nature of language. The novel The Wars effectively challenges the traditional perception of soldiers as heroic figures through its portrayal of war (Collins N. P).

In the text "The Wars" by Timothy Findley, deconstructive criticism is used to draw attention to the psychological dimension of war. It emphasizes that internal conflicts can be equally damaging as physical conflicts. The book delves into the intricacies of sanity and madness, the ambiguous distinction between ally and foe, and the blurred boundary between fantasy and actuality in times of war.

Findley explores the complexities of sanity and insanity in The Wars through various actions and events. These include Levitt's response to the collapse of the dugout, Rodwell's suicide, and Robert's endeavor to save animals facing certain death. The deconstruction of sanity and insanity is skillfully woven into the narrative, allowing readers to interpret the story based on their own perspectives. The theme of friend and enemy is central to The Wars, as evident in Robert's encounter with a German soldier and the disturbing rape scene.

In "The Wars," Findley employs a deconstructive method that prompts readers to reconsider their beliefs in binary concepts. The characters of Robert, Clifford, and Rodwell demonstrate the interplay between illusion and reality, revealing the psychological

toll that war takes on them. Through this deconstruction, Findley emphasizes that there are numerous battles beyond the physical aspect of war, as depicted in the novel's title: "The Wars".